Cinema, War, and Conscience

Opening Remarks: Sarah Cole, Dean of Columbia University, School of the Arts

Speakers: Phillip Noyce, director of The Quiet American (2002), and Tony Bui, Artist in Residence, Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Adjunct Professor, School of the Arts

Moderator: Ted Osius, former United States Ambassador to Vietnam

Can cinema remember what history forgets? As we mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, join us for a conversation on war, memory, and the enduring power of cinema to bear witness and raise conscience.

A reception will follow the program from 7:00 to 8:00 pm.

Phillip Noyce is an internationally renowned Australian filmmaker whose work spans more than four decades. He is best known for directing The Quiet American, Rabbit-Proof Fence, Dead Calm, and Patriot Games. His films often explore themes of political conflict, moral ambiguity, and human rights, earning widespread critical acclaim and numerous international awards. Noyce is recognized for his ability to craft gripping, emotionally resonant stories that resonate across cultures and borders.

Ambassador Ted Osius is the President and CEO of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council and served as U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam from 2014 to 2017. A former career diplomat with over three decades of experience, he played a pivotal role in strengthening U.S.-Vietnam relations during a period of rapid change and reconciliation. He is the author of Nothing Is Impossible: America’s Reconciliation with Vietnam, a memoir that reflects on the power of diplomacy, perseverance, and cultural understanding in healing the legacy of war.

Tony Bui is a Sundance award-winning filmmaker and currently serves as Artist-in-Residence at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute. His debut feature Three Seasons won the Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award, and Best Cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival, and was Vietnam’s official Oscar entry. In 2024, the film was honored as one of ten landmark works selected to celebrate Sundance’s 40th anniversary. Tony has written and developed projects for HBO, Warner Brothers, and NBC. In 2025, he curated a groundbreaking Criterion Channel program showcasing American and Vietnamese films for the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. His upcoming feature is inspired by the iconic “Napalm Girl” photograph.

Co-sponsored by Columbia University’s School of the Arts.

This event is part of the three-day series 50-30: From War to Peace in Vietnam and the United States, April 30 – May 2, 2025.

Registration:

• To attend this event in-person, please register HERE.